Tape drive system with tape surface inspection unit

ABSTRACT

A tape drive system for ensuring tape data integrity by tape surface inspection, the tape drive system being configured for reading and writing data from/to a magnetic tape, is provided. The tape drive system includes a laser inspection unit comprising a sender and a receiver integrated into the tape drive system, wherein the laser inspection unit configured for recognizing a tape defect by scanning the magnetic tape when the tape drive system is in operation. The tape drive system includes a read/write head configured for acting together with the laser inspection unit as sensors for providing sensor data during a read/write operation of the tape drive system, a communication link between the sensors and a controller unit for exchanging sensor data. The controller is configured for evaluating sensor data and for triggering predefined actions based on the respective evaluation results such that the tape data integrity is ensured.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to a tape drive system and a tapelibrary system, and more specifically, to a tape drive system forensuring tape data integrity by tape inspection of a magnetic tape. Theinvention relates further to a method for ensuring tape data integrityby tape inspection of a magnetic tape, and a related method foroperating a tape library system, and a computer program product.

BACKGROUND

As data becomes the new fuel of complete industries, storing this vastamount of data in a reliable form becomes instrumental for enterprisesof any scale.

SUMMARY

Aspects of a tape drive system, method, and computer program product isprovided. An aspect relates to a tape drive system for ensuring tapedata integrity by tape surface inspection. The tape drive system isconfigured for reading and writing data from or to a magnetic tape, andincludes a laser inspection unit. The laser inspection unit includes asender and a receiver integrated into the tape drive system, and isconfigured for recognizing a tape defect by scanning the magnetic tapewhen the tape drive system is in operation. A read/write head is furtherconfigured for acting together with the laser inspection unit as sensorsfor providing sensor data during a read/write operation of the tapedrive system. A communication link between the sensors and a controllerunit allows the exchanging of the sensor data, wherein the controller isconfigured for evaluating the sensor data and for triggering predefinedactions based on the respective evaluation results such that the tapedata integrity is ensured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a tape drive system for ensuring tapedata integrity by tape surface inspection, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of tape defects of different kind on the surfaceof the magnetic tape facing the read/write head, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a tape library system or multi tapelibrary, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a method for operating a tape librarysystem, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a flowchart of a more comprehensiveversion of the method which is here adapted to a real-world operation,in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a computing system instrumental forexecuting the here proposed methods and systems, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There are storage requirements defined by extreme short access times aswell as storage requirements that except comparably longer read andwrite times but which are able to store vast amounts of data at lowprice points. Although parts of industries are moving to archives onhard drives or SSD (solid state disk) there continues to be a demand forstoring data in a reliable manner on magnetic tapes. Significantindustry trends affect the way storage strategies have advanced. Some ofthe industry trends include a growing motivation to migrate data tocloud storage, the concept of storage virtualization, the requirementfor data deduplication and automatic storage tiring. Vendors are oftendriven by the long-term responsibility to make sure that the customerdata will be accessible at any time without any impact.

However, the longer the lifetime of magnetic tape cartridges is, themore problems arise from tape cartridges that may be contaminated withany kind of debris, scratches on the tape for any reasons or folds onedges of the magnetic tape. In the past, techniques have been developedto detect tape errors and clean tape cartridges in dedicated systems,which may often lead to unavailability of data on the cartridges thatfailed to deliver the data on the cartridge's medium. At the same time,in particular, with huge installations with thousands of tapecartridges, it is quite impossible to find the “bad guy” tapecartridges. There may also be another major issue of cross-contaminationmeaning that a polluted tape may leave the tape's dirt on the read/writehead of the tape drive and the next mounted tape may pick up the dirt.Finally, more or less, all tape drives and tape cartridges within thetape library may be affected after some time.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a tape drivesystem for ensuring tape data integrity by tape surface inspection maybe provided. The tape drive system may be adapted for reading andwriting data from/to a magnetic tape. The tape drive system may comprisea laser inspection unit comprising a sender and a receiver integratedinto the tape drive system. The laser inspection unit may be adapted forrecognizing a tape defect by scanning the magnetic tape when the tapedrive system is in operation.

The tape drive system may also comprise a read/write head adapted foracting together with the laser inspection unit as sensors for providingsensor data during a read/write operation of the tape drive system, anda communication link between the sensors and a controller unit forexchanging sensor data. The controller may be adapted for evaluating thesensor data and for triggering predefined actions based on therespective evaluation results such that the tape data integrity may beensured.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a tape librarysystem comprising a plurality of tape drives and at least one tape drivesystem for ensuring tape data integrity by tape surface inspectionhaving all the features of the tape drive system according to the firstaspect may be provided.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method forensuring tape data integrity by tape surface inspection when using thetape drive system which is adapted for reading and writing data from/toa magnetic tape is provided. The method may comprise providing a laserinspection unit comprising a sender and a receiver integrated into thetape drive system, recognizing, by the laser inspection unit, a tapedefect by scanning the magnetic tape when the tape drive system is inoperation. A read/write head may act together with the laser inspectionunit as sensors for providing sensor data during a read/write operationof the tape drive system. The method may further comprise exchangingsensor data between the sensors and the a controller unit, evaluating,by the controller, sensor data, and triggering, based on the evaluation,predefined actions based on the respective evaluation results such thatthe tape data integrity is ensured.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method foroperating a tape library system may be provided. The tape library systemmay comprise a plurality of tape drives and at least one tape drivesystem for ensuring tape data integrity by tape surface inspectionaccording to the first aspect as described above. The method maycomprise, upon detecting an operational error of one of the plurality oftape drives, using a current magnetic tape, loading the current magnetictape into one of the at least one tape drive systems, scanning themagnetic tape during operation of the tape drive system with the laserinspection unit, and detecting a magnetic tape defect when the tapedrive system is in operation.

It may be noted that a difference may be made between a (normal) tapedrive and the modified tape drive according to the first aspect; such amodified tape drive may be denoted as tape drive system.

Furthermore, embodiments may take the form of a related computer programproduct, accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use, by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purpose of this description, acomputer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any apparatus thatmay contain means for storing, communicating, propagating ortransporting the program for use, by or in a connection with theinstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

In the context of this description, the following conventions, termsand/or expressions may be used:

The term ‘tape drive’ may denote a data storage device that reads andwrites data on a magnetic tape. Magnetic tape data storage may typicallybe used for offline, archival data storage. A tape media generally has afavorable unit cost and a long archival stability. A tape drive mayprovide sequential access storage. A tape drive must physically wind thetape between the reels to read any one particular piece of data.However, tape drives may stream data very quickly off a tape when therequired position has been reached. For example, as of 2016, LinearTape-Open (LTO) supported continuous data transfer rates of up to 300MB/s, comparable to hard disk drives.

The term ‘tape drive system’ may denote a regular tape drive for readingand/or writing data in digital form on a magnetic tape. Additionallyincluded is the laser inspection unit.

The term ‘magnetic tape’ may denote a medium for magnetic recording,made of a thin, magnetizable coating on a long, narrow strip of plasticfilm.

The term ‘tape defects’ may denote any irregularity, in or on themagnetic tape, in form of a fold, an edge in the tape a scratch ordebris, dust, oil or any other material apart from the magnetic layer.

The term ‘laser inspection unit’ may denote an electronic-mechanicaldevice comprising a laser light source sending out light pulses andmeasuring a time span between the sending the light pulses and receivingthem back in reflected form from (e.g., the surface of the magnetictape). If any tape defects are present, the travel time will bedifferent if compared to a clean tape. The laser inspection unit may bepositioned in a small distance to the surface of the magnetic tape.

The term ‘bad spot’ or also ‘bad spot on tape’ may denote an area of amagnetic tape with non-homogeneous magnetization. The non-homogenousmagnetization areas on a tape may not be used to write any data on thetape.

The term ‘tape library system’ may denote a plurality of tape drivestypically installed physically in one rack for reading and writing aplurality of magnetic tapes in parallel. Such tape drive systems mayalso be sometimes called a tape silo, tape robot or tape jukebox, andmay describe a storage device which comprises one or more tape drives, anumber of slots to hold tape cartridges, a barcode reader to identifytape cartridges and an automated method for loading tapes (e.g. arobot).

The term ‘tape drive dump’ may denote saving all actual data of a tapedrive to another storage location on another storage device. All actualdata may comprise all buffered data, position data, the logical andphysical position of the tape, all tape management, and status and errorcode information. Basically, the complete status of the tape drive inform of any available data may be saved.

The proposed tape drive system for reading and writing data from/to amagnetic tape and for detecting tape defects may offer multipleadvantages and technical effects. The integration of a laser inspectionunit into a tape drive, which is operated under normal conditions, inorder to scan the tape material during the read/write process,represents a major step forward when compared to state-of-the-arttechnologies. Traditional technologies may have separated units for aninspection of magnetic tapes and/or magnetic tape cartridges, whiletraditional tape drives for real/write operations (i.e., data access)are used on the other side). The proposed method and system may allowfor an integrated process of inspecting a tape under normal operationalconditions (i.e., standard read/write operations).

Thus, the magnetic tapes may be monitored continuously during standardoperations such that abnormal characteristics of the magnetic tape maybe inspected and/or verified immediately during the normal operation ofthe tape drive system. In addition, finding such a bad spot on amagnetic tape may be reported immediately, so that precautions may bemade in order not to contaminate other magnetic tapes, cartridges and/ortape drives. In a nutshell, such an improvement may save a lot of driveand magnetic tape cartridge replacements which represents the norm intoday's data centers. The risk of harming the data on the tape may bereduced significantly because of the visibility of potential risks orthe tape.

The ability to have the laser inspection unit as well as the read/writehead operating as sensors, may allow for a more sophisticated reactionschema in case of an error or a detection of a tape defect. Depending onthe combined results of the sensors, different actions may be taken asdetailed below (e.g. table 1).

The usage of a laser inspection unit may advantageously be used insteadof a camera system because the size of the laser inspection unit maytypically be smaller than a camera system, so that the laser inspectionunit may be easier to integrate into a tape drive.

Additionally, it may be more difficult to illuminate the surface of themagnetic tape in order to recognize the type of tape defect.Furthermore, the laser inspection unit may need a simpler controllerinstead of sophisticated image recognition for the tape defect.

However, in one embodiment, it may also be possible to use a camerasystem instead of the laser inspection unit, which may have theadvantage that the type of tape defect may be treated differently. Forexample, a scratch may cause that the tape may be replaced immediatelyand no cleaning may be required. However, if the magnetic tape may carrydebris, then a cleaning may be required in order not to contaminateother tapes as well.

In the following, more embodiments of the tape drive system and the tapelibrary system are disclosed. The principles of the systems may also beapplicable to the related methods.

According to one advantageous embodiment of the tape drive system, thelaser inspection unit may be positioned adjacent to a read/write head ofthe tape drive system, which may also include having the laserinspection unit positioned on the same side of the magnetic tape as theread/write head of the tape drive. However, the laser inspection unitmay be positioned with a distance to the magnetic tape for a properfunction. Hence, a correlation between the tape position relative to thehead and a tape defect identified by the laser inspection unit mayelegantly be determined.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the tape drive system,the laser inspection unit generates time difference information betweena point in time of sending a laser pulse from a laser light source ofthe laser inspection unit and receiving back the laser pulse reflectedbe the magnetic tape positioned in the tape drive system. Thus, tapedefects, scratches and/or debris, dust or dirt on the tape may easily bedetectable.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the tape drive system may alsocomprise a controller adapted for relating the tape defect to an errorcondition of which at least one is selected out of the group comprisinga permanent write error, a permanent read error, and a tape bad spotcorrection threshold exceedance. Thus, the normally detected operationalerrors of a tape in a tape drive system may be put into a locationrelationship with a tape defect identified by the laser inspection unit.

According to one possible embodiment of the tape drive system, the tapedefect may at least be one selected out of the group: a tapecontamination (e.g. debris), a scratch on the magnetic tape or, a foldor bend edges of the magnetic tape. Thus, typical tape defects may bedetected easily.

According to an additionally exemplary embodiment of the tape librarysystem, the laser inspection unit may be positioned adjacent to aread/write head of the tape drive system.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the method may also comprise,upon detecting a magnetic tape defect, winding the magnetic tape to adetected tape defect location and repeating scanning the magnetic tapewith the laser inspection unit using a reduced winding speed of themagnetic tape compared to a winding speed of an initial detection of thetape defect under a normal operation mode (i.e., read and/or writeoperation mode). The magnetic tape defect may be one of a permanent readerror or a permanent write error. However, also other defects maytrigger the same reduced speed inspection: a permanent servo error, aforced cleaning because of a bad performance of the tape read/writeprocess, a servo track following error, and/or a C1/C2 error correctionthreshold may have been reached or exceeded. The C1/C2 errorclassification may be related to a standard error code of external medialike CDs, tape cartridge drive, DAT drive etc.

According to an optional embodiment, the method may also comprise, uponalso detecting a tape defect under the reduced winding speed, performinga tape drive dump (i.e., save the status of the tape) as well as dataread and written to another storage device (e.g. disk drive) forsecuring the data and for a further inspection.

According to another optional embodiment, the method may also comprisegenerating a signal indicative of a need for manual inspection to aremote console (i.e., “call-home”). Service personnel may be alarmedautomatically in order to define the appropriate action, such asreplacing defect tape drive systems, cleaning a tape drive, replacing atape cartridge or whatever measure is determined to reset a tape drive,a tape cartridge or a tape library to a normal operation mode and/or toprevent further damage. It may be noted that some aspects of the actionmay be performed automatically by the drive itself.

According to one additionally permissive embodiment, the method may alsocomprise, upon detecting a tape drive contamination, performing aloading of a cleaning tape into the tape drive system, and performing acleaning of the tape drive using the cleaning tape. Through thisautomated cleaning of the part(s) in question, an automated maintenanceprocedure may be triggered, which may reduce the requirement for servicepersonnel. The tape drive library may care for itself and avoid furthermalfunctions.

In the following, a detailed description of the figures will be given.All instructions in the figures are schematic. Firstly, a block diagramof an embodiment of the inventive tape drive system for reading andwriting data from/to a magnetic tape and for detecting tape defects anda tape library system is given. Afterwards, further embodiments, as wellas embodiments of the method for detecting defects on a magnetic tape ina tape drive system, and the method for operating a tape library system,will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a tape drive system 100 for ensuringtape data integrity by tape surface inspection, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. The tape drive system 100 isoperable for reading and writing data from/to a magnetic tape 124 andfor detecting tape defects. The upper part of FIG. 1 shows a top view102 onto the tape drive system 100, whereas the lower part of FIG. 1shows a corresponding side view 108 of the tape drive system 100.

The magnetic tape 124 is unwound or rewound from or to the cassette 126along the rollers 110, 112, 114, 118 to the second winding roll 128. Thecassette may be loaded into the tape drive system 100 from the frontside 106. The tape surface may pass along the read/write head 122.Additionally, the magnetic tape 124 may pass along the laser inspectionunit 120, which may be positioned adjacent to the read/write head 122.However, the laser inspection unit 120 may also be positioned at otherplaces along the path of the magnetic tape 124.

The read/write head 122 as well as the laser inspection unit 120 areeach connected to a communication link 132 which links to read/writehead 122 as well as the laser inspection unit 120 to controller 130which acts upon the incoming signals, interpreted as sensor data, inorder to apply different reaction templates as detailed in the contextof FIG. 4, in particular table 1.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of tape defects 200 of different kinds of dirt onthe surface 202 of the magnetic tape facing the read/write head (notshown), in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Fromleft to right, a fold 204 of the magnetic tape 124 as well as a scratch206 and debris 208 are shown. However, in any case, the travel timeequivalent to the distance 210 of light from the light source to thepotentially damaged surface of the magnetic tape is different to thetravel time of light if the surface 202 of the magnetic tape would haveno defects. In any case, the laser inspection unit 120 is enabled tomeasure such time difference and indicate a tape defect this way.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a tape library system 300 or multi tapelibrary, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Aplurality of normal tape drives 302 are installed to build a tapelibrary 300. However, one of the tape drives 302 is replaced by a tapedrive system 100 for ensuring tape data integrity by tape surfaceinspection. In case a tape error may be detected in any of the tapedrives 302, the tape can be mounted to the tape drive system 100 and asurface inspection may be performed. If no tape error is present in anyof the tape drives 302, the tape drive system 100 operates as any othertape drive 302.

The tape drive system 100 may also be installed temporarily on smallinstallations to proactively prevent the tape library system 300 to getcontaminated and can therefore be shared with multiple installations ina larger data center or among locations.

In another embodiment of the tape library system, all drives are tapedrive systems with laser inspection units. Thus, all drives in the tapelibrary system are able to detect any kind of tape problems and all tapedrive systems will scan mounted tapes during their normal read/writeprocess and will repost any kind of detected problems. The major benefitof this implementation alternative would be real-time tape problemdetection. Furthermore, it is not required to mount a tape cartridge asecond time in a tape drive system because a tape error was detected ina tape drive without any laser inspection unit.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a method 400 for operating the tapelibrary system 300, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. Also here, the tape library system 300 comprises a pluralityof tape drives 302. At least one tape drive system 100, for ensuringtape data integrity by tape surface inspection, replaces, 402, a regulartape drive. The tape drive system 100 comprises the laser inspectionunit integrated into the tape drive system adapted for recognizing atape defect when the tape drive system is in operation (i.e., performingregular read and/or write operation). The method also comprises, upondetecting an operational error of one of the plurality of tape drives302 using a current magnetic tape, loading 404 the current magnetic tapeinto one of the at least one tape drive systems 100 and, scanning, 406,the magnetic tape during operation of the tape drive system with thelaser inspection unit, as well as detecting a magnetic tape defect whenthe tape drive system is in operation.

Based on detecting a tape defect by the laser inspection unit any of theabove-described activities may be initiated: loading, 408, a cleaningtape into the tape drive, the tape defect was initially detected on,perform, 410 a “call home”, perform, 412, a dump of the content of thetape drive system, just to name a few.

With the known types of errors of a tape drive and the option to detectmechanical tape defects under operation, the following error matrixevolves:

TABLE 1 Perm Perm. Laser C1/C2 correction write read detection thresholdNo. error error unit exceeded 1 X — — — 2 — X — — 3 — — X — 4 — — — X 5X — X — 6 — X X — 7 — — X X (Note: perm = permanent)

As a consequence, several operation patterns may be followed dependingon the left most number in the table:

No. 1 and 2 (stop and analyze):

The read/write operation will be aborted due to a permanent read orwrite error. Next, the tape will be repositioned to the permanent reador write error position, and the tape is inspected by the laser unit inslow mode (e.g. slow tape speed). The location will be calculated by theLPOS—logical position—of the permanent write error. An inspection willbe done with low drive speed to get a better test result. The testresults will be stored (e.g. stored in the drive dump). A tape alertsignal will be sent to the host and a “call-home” initiated withdetailed failure analysis data. The tape will be set to read-only and atape drive cleaning will be performed.

No. 3 and 7 (continue and analyze):

In these situations, after the read/write operation, the drive will gointo a recovery mode to verify the issue. The tape is repositioned tothe laser inspection unit error position and the tape will be inspectedby the laser unit in slow winding mode. Also here, the location will becalculated by the LPOS (i.e. logical position). The inspection will bedone with low drive speed to get a better test result. The test resultsstored in the drive dump are saved and a drive dump is forced togetherwith: (a) sending a tape alert to the host, (b) sending a “call-home”with detailed fault analysis data, (c) the read/write operation shouldnow not be interrupted, and (d) a tape drive cleaning will be performed.

No. 5 and 6 (stop and analyze):

The read/write operation will be aborted due to a permanent read orwrite error. The tape will be rewound to the permanent read or writeerror position and the tape is inspected by the laser inspection unit inslow mode. Also here, the location will be calculated by the LPOS (i.e.,the logical position) of the permanent write error. An inspection willbe done with low drive speed to get a better test result. The testresults stored in the drive dump will be saved. Then the tape is woundto the laser error position and the tape is inspected by the laser unitinspection in slow mode. Again, the location will be calculated by theLPOS (i.e., the logical position). The inspection will be done with lowdrive speed to get a better test result and the test results are saved(e.g. stored in the drive dump). A drive dump is forced, a tape alert tothe host, a “call-home” with detailed fault analysis data will be sent,the tape will be set to read-only and a tape drive cleaning isperformed.

No. 4 (continue and analyze):

After the read/write operation, the drive will go into a recovery modeto verify the issue. A drive dump will be forced, a tape alert is sentto the host system, a “call-home” is sent with detailed fault analysisdata; the read/write operation should not be interrupted at this timeand a tape drive cleaning is performed.

Thus, each of the different situations requires a slightly differentsystem reaction in order to continue the normal operation withoutsignificant interrupts.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a flowchart 500 of a more comprehensiveversion of the method 100 which is here adapted to a real-worldoperation, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Theprocess starts at 501. Then, 502, the tape cartridge is inserted intothe tape drive system. The read/write process with the activated surfaceinspection using the laser inspection unit is started, 504.

In a determination process step, 506, it will be determined if thesurface defects are detected above the predefined threshold value(s). Incase of “yes”, a series of parallel action is started. 508: the tape isset to read-only; 510: the designated host system will be notified; 512:potentially, all data are read from the tape and they are copied to anew tape (e.g. in another tape drive); 514: also optionally, the damagedtape will be removed from the inventory; 516: a drive dump is forced anda call to system service is initiated; 518: if the tape drive systemcontamination is detected, a cleaning procedure with a cleaning tape forthe drive is triggered; 520: a tape drive check is performed; 522: ifthere are still problems with the tape drive system, the tape drivesystem will be replaced.

From here, the tape cartridge will be taken out, 526, of the tape drivesystem. The same step 526 will be performed in case of “no” at thedetermination 506 (e.g. surface defects detected above predefinedthreshold) and after a continuation 524 of the read/write process withactivated surface inspection.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented together with virtuallyany type of computer, regardless of the platform being suitable forstoring and/or executing program code.

FIG. 6 shows, as an example, a computing system 600 suitable forexecuting program code related to the proposed method, in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention.

The computing system 600 is only one example of a suitable computersystem and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope ofuse or functionality of embodiments of the invention described herein.Regardless, computer system 600 is capable of being implemented and/orperforming any of the functionality set forth hereinabove. In thecomputer system 600, there are components, which are operational withnumerous other general purpose or special purpose computing systemenvironments or configurations. Examples of well-known computingsystems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable foruse with computer system/server 600 include, but are not limited to,personal computer systems, server computer systems, thin clients, thickclients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframe computersystems, and distributed cloud computing environments that include anyof the above systems or devices, and the like. Computer system/server600 may be described in the general context of computersystem-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executedby a computer system 600. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 600 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in the figure, computer system/server 600 is shown in the formof a general-purpose computing device. The components of computersystem/server 600 may include, but are not limited to, one or moreprocessors or processing units 602, a system memory 604, and a bus 606that couples various system components including system memory 604 tothe processor 602. Bus 606 represents one or more of any of severaltypes of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, aperipheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or localbus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, andnot limitation, such architectures include Industry StandardArchitecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, EnhancedISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) localbus, and Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus. Computersystem/server 600 typically includes a variety of computer systemreadable media. Such media may be any available media that is accessibleby computer system/server 600, and it includes both, volatile andnon-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

The system memory 604 may include computer system readable media in theform of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 608 and/orcache memory 610. Computer system/server 600 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 612 may be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a ‘hard drive’). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a ‘floppy disk’), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media may be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 606 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 604 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

The program/utility, having a set (at least one) of program modules 616,may be stored in memory 604 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 616 generally carry out the functionsand/or methodologies of embodiments of the invention as describedherein.

The computer system/server 600 may also communicate with one or moreexternal devices 618 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display620, etc.; one or more devices that enable a user to interact withcomputer system/server 600; and/or any devices (e.g., network card,modem, etc.) that enable computer system/server 600 to communicate withone or more other computing devices. Such communication can occur viaInput/Output (IO) interfaces 614. Still yet, computer system/server 600may communicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 622. As depicted, network adapter 622may communicate with the other components of computer system/server 600via bus 606. It should be understood that although not shown, otherhardware and/or software components could be used in conjunction withcomputer system/server 600. Examples, include, but are not limited to:microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external diskdrive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storagesystems, etc.

The present invention may be embodied as a system, a method, and/or acomputer program product. The computer program product may include acomputer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readableprogram instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry outaspects of the present invention.

The medium may be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared or a semi-conductor system for a propagation medium. Examplesof a computer-readable medium may include a semi-conductor or solidstate memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a randomaccess memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk andan optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compactdisk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W), DVDand Blu-Ray-Disk.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including anobject-oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like,and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus', and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus', or anotherdevice to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce acomputer implemented process, such that the instructions which executeon the computer, other programmable apparatus', or another deviceimplement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowcharts and/or block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or act or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

In one embodiment, the system of the present invention may be or includea hardware device such as a computer, portable device, etc. In oneembodiment, the hardware device is or includes a special-purpose device(e.g., computer, machine, portable device) that comprises specialized,non-generic hardware and circuitry (i.e., specialized discretenon-generic analog, digital, and logic based circuitry) for(independently or in combination) particularized for executing onlymethods of the present invention. The specialized discrete non-genericanalog, digital, and logic based circuitry may include proprietaryspecially designed components (e.g., a specialized integrated circuit,such as for example an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC),designed for only implementing methods of the present invention).

A computer program product of the present invention may include one ormore computer readable hardware storage devices having computer readableprogram code stored therein, said program code containing instructionsexecutable by one or more processors of a computing system (or computersystem) to implement the methods of the present invention.

A computer system of the present invention may include one or moreprocessors, one or more memories, and one or more computer readablehardware storage devices, said one or more hardware storage devicescontaining program code executable by the one or more processors via theone or more memories to implement the methods of the present invention.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinaryskills in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of thedescribed embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to bestexplain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application ortechnical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or toenable others of ordinary skills in the art to understand theembodiments disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tape drive system for ensuring tape dataintegrity by tape surface inspection, the tape drive system beingconfigured for reading and writing data from or to a magnetic tape, thetape drive system comprising: a laser inspection unit comprising asender and a receiver integrated into the tape drive system, the laserinspection unit configured for recognizing a tape defect by scanning themagnetic tape when the tape drive system is in operation; a read/writehead configured for acting together with the laser inspection unit assensors for providing sensor data during a read/write operation of thetape drive system; and a communication link between the sensors and acontroller unit for exchanging the sensor data; wherein the controlleris configured for evaluating the sensor data and for triggeringpredefined actions based on the respective evaluation results such thatthe tape data integrity is ensured; wherein the laser inspection unit isconfigured for generating, as part of the sensor data, a time differenceinformation between a point in time of sending a laser pulse from alaser light source of the laser inspection unit and receiving back thelaser pulse reflected by the magnetic tape positioned in the tape drivesystem.
 2. The tape drive system according to claim 1, wherein the laserinspection unit is positioned adjacent to the read/write head of thetape drive system.
 3. The tape drive system according to claim 1,wherein the controller is configured for relating the tape defect to anerror condition of which at least one error condition is selected fromthe group consisting of: a permanent write error, a permanent readerror, and a tape bad spot correction threshold exceedance.
 4. The tapedrive system according to claim 1, wherein the tape defect is at leastone defect is selected from the group consisting of: a tapecontamination, a scratch on the magnetic tape or, a fold of the magnetictape.
 5. A tape library system comprising: a plurality of tape drivesand at least one tape drive system according to claim
 1. 6. The tapelibrary system according to claim 5, wherein the laser inspection unitis positioned adjacent to the read/write head of the tape drive system.7. The tape library system according to claim 5, wherein the laserinspection unit is configured for generating, as part of the sensordata, a time difference information between a point in time of sending alaser pulse from a laser light source of the laser inspection unit andreceiving back the laser pulse reflected by the magnetic tape positionedin the tape drive system.
 8. The tape library system according to claim5, wherein the controller is configured for relating the tape defectwith an error condition of which at least one error condition isselected from the group consisting of: a permanent write error, apermanent read error, and a bad spot correction threshold exceedance. 9.The tape library system according to claim 5, wherein the tape defect isat least one tape defect selected from the group consisting of: a tapecontamination, a scratch on the magnetic tape, and a fold of saidmagnetic tape.
 10. A method for ensuring tape data integrity by tapesurface inspection when using a tape drive system being configured forreading and writing data from or to a magnetic tape, the methodcomprising: providing a laser inspection unit comprising a sender and areceiver integrated into the tape drive system; recognizing, by thelaser inspection unit, a tape defect by scanning the magnetic tape whenthe tape drive system is in operation, wherein a read/write head actstogether with the laser inspection unit as sensors for providing asensor data during a read/write operation of the tape drive system;exchanging the sensor data between the sensors and a controller unit;evaluating, by the controller, the sensor data; and triggering, based onthe evaluating, predefined actions based on the respective evaluationresults such that the tape data integrity is ensured; wherein the laserinspection unit generates, as part of the sensor data, a time differenceinformation between a point in time of sending a laser pulse from alaser light source of the laser inspection unit and receiving back thelaser pulse reflected by the magnetic tape positioned in the tape drivesystem.
 11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:winding, upon detecting the tape defect, the magnetic tape to a detectedtape defect location and repeating scanning the magnetic tape with thelaser inspection unit using a reduced winding speed of the magnetic tapecompared to a winding speed of an initial detection of the tape defectunder a normal operation mode.
 12. The method according to claim 11,further comprising: performing a tape drive dump, upon also detecting atape defect under the reduced winding speed.
 13. The method according toclaim 10, further comprising: generating a signal indicative of a needfor manual inspection to a remote console.
 14. The method according toclaim 10, further comprising: upon detecting a tape drive contamination:performing a loading of a cleaning tape into the tape drive system; andperforming a cleansing of the tape drive using the cleaning tape.
 15. Amethod for operating a tape library system, the tape library systemcomprising a plurality of tape drives and at least one tape drive systemfor ensuring tape data integrity by tape surface inspection, the tapedrive system being configured for reading and writing data from or to amagnetic tape, the tape drive system comprising: a laser inspection unitcomprising a sender and a receiver integrated into the tape drivesystem, the laser inspection unit configured for recognizing a tapedefect by scanning the magnetic tape when the tape drive system is inoperation; a read/write head configured for acting together with thelaser inspection unit as sensors for providing a sensor data during aread/write operation of the tape drive system; and a communication linkbetween the sensors and a controller unit for exchanging the sensordata; wherein the controller is configured for evaluating the sensordata and for triggering predefined actions based on the respectiveevaluation results such that the tape data integrity is ensured; whereinthe laser inspection unit is configured for generating, as part of thesensor data, a time difference information between a point in time ofsending a laser pulse from a laser light source of the laser inspectionunit and receiving back the laser pulse reflected by the magnetic tapepositioned in the tape drive system.
 16. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising: upon detecting an operational error of one of the pluralityof tape drives using a current magnetic tape: loading the currentmagnetic tape into one of the at least one tape drive systems; scanningthe magnetic tape during operation of the tape drive system with thelaser inspection unit; and detecting a magnetic tape defect when thetape drive system is in operation.
 17. A computer program product,comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing acomputer readable program code, the computer readable program codecomprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of acomputing system implements a method of claim 15.